Ilex integra aka Mochitree

Ilex integra, or mochi tree, belongs to the holly family, Aquifoliaceae. This evergreen tree comes from temperate parts of East Asia. Its native range includes Zhejiang in China and Korea. It also includes Taiwan’s Lan Yü island. In Japan, its range spans the central and southern regions. It extends to the Nansei islands as well. There, it grows in woods and thickets on hills and low mountains. These sites often lie near the sea. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

In gardens, it reaches about 20 feet (6 metres) tall. Its spread reaches about 16 feet (5 metres). It keeps its leaves all year. Flowers appear in April. Seeds ripen from August to October. The supplied sources give conflicting accounts of flower sex. One PFAF entry calls the flowers bisexual, with both sexes. Its growing notes describe separate male and female plants. Those notes advise growing both sexes to get seed. The evidence does not describe the bark or fruit colour.

Grow this tree in sun or partial shade, including light woodland. It prefers moist ground, but the soil must not stay waterlogged. It accepts sand, loam, and clay soils. The ground can be mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline. PFAF lists USDA zones 6–9. It also gives a separate mature cold limit near 14°F (−10°C). Young plants need more care in cold weather. Trees grown from seed may stay tender for their first two or three years.

Plant young trees in their lasting site before their roots grow large. Older trees do not like having their roots disturbed. Winter cover may help during the first year or two outdoors. The tree takes pruning well, even cuts into old wood. Its year-round leaves suit woodland gardens and edges with some shade. Growing it from seed takes patience. Seeds can take 18 months to sprout. Stored seed may need two winters and a summer. Seedlings grow at a slow pace. Light shade helps them during their first year.

PFAF lists cooked young leaves as food for emergencies, not a routine crop. It gives the species a low food-use rating. It lists no known uses as medicine or as a source of materials. Its warning about poison concerns other hollies. It does not report confirmed poisoning from this species. That warning does not mean this tree is safe to eat. The supplied sources name no pests or diseases specific to this species.